Factors Influencing SARS-CoV-2 Infection Control Practices of Nurses Caring for COVID-19 Patients in South Korea: Based on Health Belief Model

Abstract

This study aimed to verify the level of COVID-19 infection control practices and the factors affecting the COVID-19 infection control practices of Korean nurses based on the health belief model. The participants were 143 nurses experienced in caring for COVID-19 patients in South Korea. Questionnaires were used to measure health beliefs, confidence in practice, knowledge of COVID-19, infection protection environment, and COVID-19 infection control practices. Data were analyzed by performing descriptive statistics, an independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, the Mann-Whitney test and multiple regression analysis. The mean score for infection control practices related to COVID-19 was 4.76 on a 5-point scale where a higher score indicates superior infection control performance. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the factors that influenced COVID-19 infection control practices were gender, marital status, perceived susceptibility, and confidence in practice related to COVID-19. With COVID-19 approaching endemic and to prevent infectious diseases, it is necessary to emphasize perceived sensitivity by providing accurate information on the risk of infection rather than simply inducing infection control to be divided into individual activities. In addition, nurses' infection control practices should be implemented with confidence with the nurses themselves feeling the need for infection control and not being forced by the social atmosphere or the hospital.